8 Days Conscious Meditation and Yoga Retreat in Costa Rica

AHKI Retreat, Nosara, Costa Rica

Overview

Women's Spiritual Yoga Meditation Retreat Costa Rica

Experience the magic of a pause. This retreat is an invitation to slow down and nurture your body, mind, and soul with like-minded women in a setting you can only call a little slice of heaven. Together, you will cultivate a peaceful, calming, connected space to open to new adventure, create heavenly pauses by the infinity pool while being nurtured with organic cuisine and deeply holistic and healing treatments.

During this retreat, you will stay in a shared room. AHKI Retreat is an intimate yet spacious facility. Infused with simple elegance, the two large cabins located just a short walk down from the main house offer six sizable guest rooms that can accommodate up to three people per room.

All rooms have ceiling fans, large windows, and doors, as well as plenty of overhead ventilation for optimal airflow, fine linens, USA-style heaters for reliable and safe environmentally-friendly hot water, a handcrafted Costa Rican hardwood furniture made by local artisans, and daily housekeeping.

Each room has a private bathroom with a large unique and luxurious indoor and outdoor shower and patios and decks that command stellar views of the mountains and valleys.

This is an invitation to find movement through yoga, Tai Chi, and dance as well as stillness in meditation, breath, and being. Recharge your passion with joy and intention for this one audacious life. Be re-ignited by exploring techniques to cultivate the nurturing effects of mindfulness, so you can bring forth your true inspired self. Each day, you will meet with the others in a circle to share wisdom, daily practices, and techniques that bring true delight and bliss.

Share daily meditations and inspirational practices. Expand with yoga in the treetop studio, the salt water pool, and on the beach. Balance with Tai Chi and breath awareness. Energize with movement and dance. Absorb the sun, the sea, and the sounds of the jungle. This is what a conscious adventure is all about!

Liz’s passion is sharing the gift of connection through the joy of moment, dance, and yoga to the place of rich stillness in the present moment. Liz has been moving her body in joy since she was a dancing poodle at age four (no she does not still have the pink tutu). Her life path brought her to sharing the gifts of dance, strength training, and yoga to the stillness of mindful meditation and peace from the inside out.

Meg Barber

Over the last sixteen years, Meg has experienced yoga as a valuable tool for centering, stress reduction, inspiration, and relaxation. She believes that yoga increases wellness while improving the quality and passion for life. Meg’s yoga teaching experiences include Hatha, aqua, and Restorative yoga. She has created and hosted a number of workshops including yoga for the lower back, practice at home, and yogic philosophy in the workplace.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica rests between two continents and two oceans. The central point links the North and South Americas, bordering Nicaragua in the north and Panama in the south. The east coast meets the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean lines the west with an abundance of lush tropical rainforests, mountains, volcanoes, white water rivers, and waterfalls in between.

Situated just nine degrees north of the equator, Costa Rica has a balanced 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night, with the sun rising around 06:00 and setting at 18:00. North America's winters coincide with Costa Rica's summers making it a perfect location during the cold months.

Nicoya Peninsula

Nicoya Peninsula has been designated as one of the world's five blue zones which are hot spots that have common healthy traits and life practices that result in higher-than-normal longevity. It is truly a mecca for the holistic and healing arts practices.

During this retreat, you will be served three daily vegetarian meals. AHKI serves fresh (organic, when available) vegan and vegetarian meals that appeal to a variety of appetites. The experienced staff cooks solely for the retreat guests, enabling them to take into consideration your individual dietary needs and making the appropriate modifications and adjustments if possible.

All meals are served in the lovely open air dining room with a great view of the gardens, the pool, the mountains, and the sea. Your day begins with a self-served feast of fresh fruits, home made, organic yogurt from fresh, local raw milk, locally baked bread, and home made granola. Hot dishes can include gallo pinto (a traditional Costa Rican dish of rice and beans), and fresh, local, and organic eggs served in a variety of ways and delicious oatmeal.

All the sustenance you need to carry you through your morning of surfing! The healthy and delicious lunches and dinners are served sit-down style and carefully planned to be climate appropriate. Bagged lunches are available for all-day, for off-site excursions.

During your time here, you will have the opportunity to visit and surf in the isolated breaks of the pristine Nicoya peninsula while enjoying the close proximity of other activities such as adventure tours, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding tours, swimming, wildlife hikes, horseback riding, auto-gyro tours, and fishing excursions. A 15-minute drive to the north brings you to Playa Guiones and Pelada which offer some great restaurants and shopping. And, of course, there is always plenty of time to relax and soak up the serenity that abounds!

Board building classes

As an added feature, you will have the opportunity to get in the shaping room and gain an awareness of the functioning aspects of foil, surface area lift, and displacement. Learn why a custom shape is personalized for each individual and how to communicate with your board builder at each stage of your progression. Learn fundamentals of surf board function.

During this retreat, you may enjoy massage treatments for an additional cost.

Classic Swedish massage

This is a classic Swedish massage using long flowing strokes to send you into bliss. The cost for this massage is 90 USD for 60 minutes or 110 USD for 90 minutes.

Cranio sacral therapy

This is a gentle, hands-on method for evaluating and enhancing the functioning of a physiological body system called the craniosacral system comprised of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord.

Using a soft touch generally no greater than five grams, practitioners release restrictions in the craniosacral system to improve the functioning of the central nervous system. The cost for this therapy is 120 USD for 60 minutes or 150 USD for 90 minutes.

Deep tissue remedial massage

This massage is a combination of mio-facial release, trigger point therapy, and skeletal alignment to treat a variety of issues. This massage works on chronic and acute pain in all areas of the body. It is a highly therapeutic therapy that integrates mind, body, spirit by working intuitively with compassion. The cost for this massage is 105 USD for 60 minutes or 133 USD for 90 minutes.

Energy centered deep body work

This relaxing, nurturing, and therapeutic massage uses firmer pressure integrating body, mind, and spirit. Tension, stress, chronic, and acute areas of discomfort are addressed using a variety of physical and energetic techniques which invite a loose, flowing, and rejuvenated feeling. Combines Esalen, Thai and Kripalu body work. The cost for this body work is 135 USD for 90 minutes.

Facials

Exfoliate, sooth, and hydrate your skin leaving it soft, smooth, and glowing with all natural gentle blends. The cost for this facial is 115 USD for 90 minutes.

Group acupuncture

Influenced by traditional acupuncture clinics, receiving acupuncture in a group raises the frequency of the energy field and invites deeper healing individually and collectively. Before one is invited to participate in a group session, each participant meets with Mitra for a private interview session to gather information about their state of being. The cost for this treatment is 65 USD from one to five persons or 60 USD from six to 10 persons.

Healing touch and energy balancing

By working with light touch on and off the body within the energy field, the hands of the therapist are used to influence the subtle body bringing balance and harmony to the whole mind, body, and spirit system. The cost for this treatment is 80 USD for 60 minutes or 100 USD for 90 minutes.

Inner wave body work

This is a soothing full body relaxation massage that incorporates breathing, centering, and a meditative focus with connective wave-like movements. As the body relaxes, the mind relaxes allowing for an experience of complete relaxation and letting go. The cost for this body work is 135 USD for 90 minutes.

Jungle love massage

This massage incorporates many different types of skills, techniques, and pressures like trigger point therapy, Shiatsu, and vibrational and rebalancing. The cost for this massage is 120 USD for 60 minutes or 140 USD for 90 minutes.

Rebalancing bodywork and massage

This massage is a combination of deep tissue massage, joint tension release, and energy balancing to release chronic holding patterns that contribute to pain and illness. According to the holistic approach of rebalancing, the emotional, energetic, and spiritual aspects are as important as your physical component. The cost for this massage is 120 USD for 60 minutes or 150 USD for 90 minutes.

Reiki sessions

This is an ancient Japanese technique for stress reduction, relaxation, and healing. Reiki treats the body, emotions, mind, and spirit creating many beneficial effects that include feelings of deep inner peace, security, and wellbeing. The cost for this massage is 105 USD for 60 minutes.

Swedish massage

This totally relaxing and nurturing massage uses beautiful essential oils to uplift the spirit. It helps the flow of the circulation by bringing balance and energy back to the body. The cost for this massage is 105 USD for 60 minutes or 133 USD for 90 minutes.

Thai yoga and massage

The ancient, spiritual art of healing, Thai yoga is derivative of the Theraveda Buddhism, Buddhist medicine, classical Indian and Tibetan Ayurveda, and yoga Vedanta.

Thai yoga is a vibrational medicine that incorporates elements of mindfulness, gentle rocking, deep stretching, and rhythmic compression with heart-centered, compassionate attention that can strengthen the immune system, release toxins, improve flexibility, and enhance your yoga practice. The cost for this treatment is 135 USD for 90 minutes or 150 USD for 120 minutes.

The active sol massage

This deep pressure massage focuses on problem areas. The cost for this massage is 110 USD for 60 minutes or 130 USD for 90 minutes.

Arrival by airplane

Please book your flight to arrive at Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport (LIR). Transfer from and to this airport is available upon request. Another option is to book your flight to arrive at Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO). From there, you can take a short flight to Nosara Airport (NOB) and then take a bus or rent a car.

"I was here for a yoga retreat. What an amazing place - the food, the arrangements, the location are truly magical. The only thing I would warn on is that if you get car sick, take a Dramamine before the drive, it is unpaved."

TripAdvisor website, edited

Review by Paul from London, UK

10 out of 10

"Ahki is not your run of the mill B&B, but a beautiful architecturally designed and landscaped property up in the hills behind Garza Beach, an easy 15 minute drive to Guiones Beach. All buildings on the property showcase a sophisticated CR and Asian flair and the rooms are stylish, spacious, and comfortable. Fantastic breakfasts and dinners available as an extra (if you do not fancy the drive into town). It would be very easy to not leave the property and give into rest and relaxation - that said, there are many beautiful attractions near at hand. The pool area is spectacular and there is a beautiful yoga space. No Wi-Fi in the rooms, but available poolside. Wonderful tree specimens and landscaping abound, and yes, nature as well - that means the sound and occasionally sight of monkeys, hummingbirds, frogs, and various critters, who we share this space (the jungle) with. I appreciate the ethics of Ahki in not laying poisons out to eradicate these harmless indigenous locals, and accordingly, it's possible you may see a few critters around the property - but nothing of concern. The only caution is for those with mobility issues. The rooms are a few minutes walk down stairs and terraces from the main house and this may not suit elderly or mobility impaired persons. You should also be prepared for a steep gravel driveway (but this is not uncommon in Costa Rica) - I would strongly recommend a car for independence - but it's not absolutely necessary. There were during my stay a range of couples coming through the property and a few single people as well. Everyone had space for privacy and the shared breakfast spaces etc allowed for gentle interactions. Finally, no review of Ahki could be complete without recognizing the great efforts and energy of the owner, Karen, who is a wonderful person and personality, ever present, always interested in the well being and enjoyment of guests. This is very much Karen's home and a testament to her taste and interest in the environment and sustainability."

TripAdvisor website, edited

Review by Jessica Daniels from New York, USA

9 out of 10

"The energy that encompasses Ahki embraces oneself from all angles and really gives you the opportunity to relax and breathe in the beauty of nature that surrounds you."

AHKI Retreat website, edited

Review by Julie M. from Oregon, USA

9 out of 10

"What an exquisite spot!!! The ambiance was soothing and very zen. The food, views, monkeys, and people left nothing to be desired. I would return in a heartbeat."

AHKI Retreat website, edited

Review by Alli James from Colorado, USA

9 out of 10

"Just returned from an amazing week at AHKI. What a beautiful place. The attention to detail and the convergence with nature are inspired. I was there for a week long retreat and its an incredible place for such an experience."